July 5, 2009

REFLECTING ON THE WORD

God describes the people to whom Ezekiel is being sent as "hard of face and obstinate of heart" (Ezekiel 2:4). They are a people who have rebelled and revolted against God, but still God persists in sending them a prophet: this time Ezekiel, last time Jeremiah, the time before that Isaiah, all the way back to Samuel and Nathan, Elijah and Elisha. Even today, God continues to send prophets to soften our faces and make yielding our own hearts.

Jesus found hardened faces and stubborn hearts when he went to his hometown. Impenetrable seems to be the best description. His words could not get through. He was proclaiming the kingdom of God, the presence of God among them, and they couldn't hear him. It all depended on what they saw and all they saw was the carpenter, questioning where he got such wisdom and how he did these mighty deeds. He was just the son of Mary! We know the family. Go figure.

And then we hear some of the saddest words in the Gospel: "So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them" (Mark 6:5). Why? Their lack of faith.

So Jesus started a new family. It began with the people whom we have been hearing about-the disciples, for all their struggles to believe in him right up to the very end, but also people like the woman with the hemorrhage, Jairus and his daughter, the man lowered through the roof, the fellow who had an evil spirit. The list goes on and on, down to our own day.

By baptism, we became part of the family, the new family whose bond is not based on blood, but on faith. The ever-recurring question is: Is he able to work any signs among us, or is he amazed at our lack of faith?

Taken from: LIVING THE WORD, Scripture Reflections and Commentaries for Sundays and Holy Days, Dennis Sylva and James Wallace.

July 5, 2009

Sunday June 21, 2009 Offerings:$ 9948.00

NURTURING YOUR TEEN'S FAITH

As our children grow into teens, we become increasingly aware that they may soon be moving out from our households. How can we nurture their growth in faith as they move toward greater independence? Please join us for a conversation with Jamie Dillon, our parish director of Catholic youth ministry and religious education, this Wednesday evening, July 8, at 7:30 in the Pastoral Center. If you have teens in your life, take advantage of this opportunity to tap into Jamie's wide experience, and to share your own experience and support with others. There is no registration or fee.

GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES

The diocese of Pittsburgh is again planning its annual golden wedding celebration for couples married 50 years. This year's celebration will take place on Sunday, November 8, 2009 with a mass at 3:00p.m. at St. Paul cathedral. Bishop Zubik will be the celebrant. A reception will follow in the lower hall of the cathedral. Any couple in the parish who has celebrated or will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary during 2009 please submit to me your names (both first names, as well as last name), your address and phone number. The deadline for submission is Sunday, September 6th. Each couple will receive an invitation to the anniversary mass.

THANK YOU!

Many thank to all of our parishioners who supported our mission trip to Appalachia last week. We had 57 adults and youth travel to Elkview, WV. There we built a handicap ramp, painted an exterior of a house, replaced two bathroom shower surrounds, replaced a rotted gutter, repaired a roof, painted a home interior, repaired a rotted kitchen floor and painted to porches. We also witnessed our faith to the community by sharing our faith, companionship and food.

Thank you to all who gave their time and talent to make this year's Vacation Bible School a success!

Our annual trip to Sandcastle is Thursday July 23. Cost is $18.95 per person. Please register ASAP to the youth ministry office. All are welcome.

Don't forget to register your middle school student for Camp Helping Hand July 15-17 9:00-2:00. We will be working with Habitat for Humanity.

St. Joseph's church in O'Hara has Eucharistic adoration every Wednesday from 3:00pm-7:00pm followed by a 7:00pm mass.

Christ the Divine Teacher PRESCHOOL

Due to the overwhelming response to our Pre-school program for the '09-10 school year we are considering opening a four-year old afternoon class starting at 12:15 p.m. and ending at 2:45 p.m on M-W-F. If this additional time slot fits into your schedule please contact the school at 412.781.7927 or email eransom@nauticom.net. See our school website for more details www.cdtcatholicacadmy.org.

Stress in Your Marriage?

There is less than a week left to signup for Retrouvaille. Retrouvaille is a program for married couples that feel bored, frustrated, or angry in their marriage. Help is available. For confidential information about or to register for the July program beginning with a weekend on July 10-12, 2009, call 412-277-3434 or email: 3041@retrouvaille.org or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.com

BLOOD DRIVE

The Blood donated at the St. Scholastica Blood Drive on July 19th will be donated for Joy Laurenson. Joy is the 17 month old granddaughter of parishioner Paula Hiteshew. Joy was born with Down's Syndrome and then developed Leukemia. Joy has had several transfusion and chemo treatments. You can make a difference in the life of this special child. Come out on July 19th, 8am to 1pm and see if you are able to donate blood. For an appointment log on to www.centralbloodbank.org and enter sponsor code G0040167 or call Mary Catherine Scanlon at 412-781-6550.

HEKIMA PLACE

Hekima place is a Kenyan boarding school that provides a beacon of hope to girls who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Kekima's mission is to provide a stable home environment and support for education. These girls are given a chance to mature and learn in a place of safety, comfort and love. Mrs. Kate Fletcher will be speaking at all the masses next weekend about her mission work in Kenya for these past six years. We will take upon a collection at all the masses to support these young women at Hekima place. Checks may be made out to "Hekima place". These donations are tax deductable

Saturday, Vigil ofthe Fourteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 4

5:00 pmHarriet Lynch (Lynch Family)

Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

Sunday, Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 5

7:30 amBuccieri Family

Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

9:00 amJackie Manley (Welsh Family)

Presider: Fr. Robert Duch

11:00 amFor the People of St. Scholastica

Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

Monday, Weekday, July 6

8:30 am Leona Marzec (DebraLonghini)

Tuesday, Weekday, July 7

8:30 amFrank Skowron (Family)

Wednesday, Weekday, July 8

8:30 amBetty & Bob French (French Family)

Thursday, Weekday, July 9

8:30 amIrene Kurkiewicz (Kurkiewicz Children)

Friday, Weekday, July 10

8:30 amErna Godbout

(Ronald and Nancy Jalbert)

Saturday, Benedict, abbot, July 11

9:00 amMr. & Mrs. Eugene C. Vey

(Dr. & Mrs. E. Kenneth Vey)

Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

Saturday, Vigil ofthe Fifteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, July 11

5:00 pmSen. James Romanelli (Sandy Romanelli)

Presider: Fr. Robert Duch

Sunday, Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, July 12

7:30 amFor the People of St. Scholastica

Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

9:00 amPaul Richard Gretchen Welsh

(Welsh Family)

Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

11:00 amDaniel Fleming

Presider: Fr. Kenneth White

SACRAMENTS

INFANT BAPTISM is celebrated at noon on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.Please make arrangements with the parish secretary at least 2 weeks prior to the desired date.

ARE YOU INTERESTED IN BECOMING A CATHOLIC? R.C.I.A. is the process which enables adults to become initiated into the Church.Call the pastor for information.

RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION) is celebrated at St. Scholastica Parish on Saturdays after 9:00 a.m. Mass. For your convenience, the parishes in our cluster have the following opportunities for reconciliation:

St. Joseph Parish has Sat. reconciliation from 3:30-4:00.

Madonna of Jerusalem has reconciliation on Wednesday evening from 5:30-6:45 and Saturday from 3:00-4:00 p.m.

HOLY EUCHARIST is available for those who are sick and confined to home.Call Sister Marilyn for assistance.